Automatic clutch mechanism



Aug. 10, 1943. o. H. BANKER 2,326,279

AUTOMATIC CLUTCH macrmmsm Filed May 29, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 I HgI ENTOR A44 A T ORNEY Aug. 10, 1943. ,o. H. BANKER AUTOMATIC CLUTCH MECHANISM s Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 29, 1939 M M-m INVENTOR I w 0543(1)")? flan/Lei: 2

' L A TTORNE) g- Q. H. BANKER 2,326,279

AUTOMATIC CLUTCH MECHANISM Filed May 29, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENTOR BY Oscarfflianker 2.

L. TTORNEY 1943- o; H. BANKER 2,326,279

I AUTOMATIC CLUTCH MECHANISM Filed May 29, 1939 e Sheets-Sheet 4 A TORNEY Aug. 10, 1943.

o. H. BANKER AUTOMATIC CLUTCH MECHANISM Filed May 29. 19:59 e Sheets-Shet 5 INVENTOR. ascwflfianker Aug. 10, 1943. -o. H. BAN-KER 2,326,279

AUTOMATIC CLUTCH MECHANISM Filed May 29,, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented. Aug. 10, 1943 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC cLU'rcn MECHANISM Oscar H. Banker, Chicago, 111., assignor to New Products'Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application May 29, 1939, Serial No. 276,303

30 Claims. (01. 192-105) proved clutch automatically operable by-speed responsive mechanism, which is controlled by the speed of the engine and in which a manual control of the clutch is also provided, and, more particularly, to simplify and improve clutches of this type by providing a compact and efiicient arrangement for operation of the clutch by th speed responsive mechanism.

Another object is to provide an automatic clutch particularly adapted for use in automotive vehicles, and to provide a construction in which the speed responsive mechanism is compactly mounted adjacent a pressure plate whic is associated with the clutch disk.

Another object is to provide a clutch. mechanism in which disengagement of the clutclfis effected at a lower speed than its engagement, thus eliminating much of the wear and the heating and burning of the clutch parts, and providing for a longer life.

Another object is to provide an automatic clutch that can be changed to a conventional, manually operable clutch when the occasion requires, such as when pushing a car to start its motor, or parking a car on a grade in gear. or coasting down hill against engine compression.

Another object is to provide a new and improved disk type clutch embodying centrifugally operable elements and toggle linkages intermediate said elements and a pressure plate for engaging and disengaging the clutch.

A further object is to provide an automatic clutch particularly adapted for automotive vehicles embodying a means functioning when the engine is stopped to engage the clutch.

Other objects will become readily apparent from' the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

, tical section through said mechanism,

Fig. 2 is a detail vertical sectional ,view takenon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4'is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing certain modifications and with parts of the lower half broken away and parts in section.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken generallyalong the broken line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Fig, 6 is a vertical central section through another formof the invention approximately along the line BB of Fig. 7.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section approximately along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section along the line 8--8 of Fig. 7. I

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section along the lin 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a detail view of certain parts.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary section along the line H-ll of Fig. 6.

While there is shown in the drawings and hereinafter described in detail three different forms of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular constructions and arrangments shown, it being contemplated that various changes can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, the numeral 10 designates the drive shaft or engine shaft, I l the, driven shaft or transmission, shaft, and l2'the flywheel secured -to the shaft A III by the bolts l3.

The flywheel forms one of the clutch elements and has a clutch face l ladapted to be engaged by the adjacent friction face l5 of the clutch element l6 which is in the form of a disk whose hub I1 is slidably splined to the driven shaft ll.

A'clutch element I8 is in the form of an annular plate which is slidably keyed to the flywheel l2 by slidable engagement with the 'flat sided heads IQ of key pins 20 mounted in said flywheel. This plate is adapted to be moved laterally into engagement with the friction face 2| of the disk l6 and acts to press the face l5 of said disk into clutched engagement with the clutchface [4 of the flywheel to establish a drivi g relation between said drive and driven shafts. This clutch element I8 is normally held in release position by equally spaced radially disposed springs 22. One end of each spring 22 .is

suitably anchored to the plate l8 while the other Wedge blocks 24 are slidably mounted in 'equally spaced radially disposed grooves 25 the adjacent face of the wedge block 24 includ-- The free 'ends 32- ing the inclined portion 3|. of the levers 26 are adapted to engage the flanged end of a shift collar, or sleeve 33 which is slidably keyed at 34 to the hub of the housing member 29 which is secured to the flywheel |2 by the bolts 35.

A relatively heavy coiled spring 36 is interposed between the housing member 29 and the flanged end of said sleeve 33 and normally acts through said sleeve upon the levers 26 to swing them toward the left and thus through the rollers 36 and blocks 24 put pressure on the plate l8 so as to move it against the disk l6 and bring said disk into clutched engagement with the flywheel.

a For the normal automatic operation of the clutch, speed responsive means are provided for moving the wedge blocks 24 relative to the plate [8 and levers 26. Each of the blocks 24 is pivotally connected by a pin 31 to one end of'a link 38 which is pivotally connected by a pin 39 to an equalizer member 40 mounted to turn freely on the hub of a bearing member 4| whose web plate l8, said equalizer being held against longitudinal movement by the nut 44 in threaded engagement with the threaded end of said bearend 23 engages the head H! of one of the key pins 20.

the spring as. Thus as the inclined surfaces 31 of the blocks 24 pass the rollers 36 the clutch .are less, since the spring 36 is prevented from acting to release the clutch and is actually exerting pressure through the lever 26 upon the blocks 24 retarding their movement to. release position. Hence the speed at which release of the clutch takes "place will be much less than that at which the clutch is engaged.

For disengaging the clutch manually, under conditions of emergency engagement or at any other time, a clutch pedal 56 is pivotally mounted .at 51 and has a throwout fork portion 56 engageable with a collar or ring 59 which has a ball bearing journal mounting 66 on the outer end of the sleeve 33. The downward swinging movement of the clutch pedal 56 acts through the collar 59100 shift the sleeve 33 toward the right. to

ing member and also looked thereto by the lock key 45.

Governor weights 46 are each operatively connected by a link 41 with the equalizer member relieve the levers 26 of the pressure of the spring 36 whether said spring is acting thereon for emergency engagement or is being compressed through action of the weights 46, the blocks 24 and the levers 26 as previously described.

The arrangement of the parts shown is'such that normally when the engine is stopped or in idling speed the pressure transmitting member 24 is withdrawn and the backing means is limited in its travel by the fork portion 58 whose travel is limited so as to prevent any pressure being transmitted to plate 8 through the member 24. For limiting the travel of the fork portion 58 to permit normal automatic operation of the mechanism a stop memberg6| is mounted on the pedal 56 and adapted to engage a fixed stop 62. The stop member 6| is preferably in the form of a lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on a pin '63 carried by an arm 64 of said pedal and is normally held in an operative position by a stud 49 whichis here shown as secured to the disk portion 42 by welding, indicated at 50, and each weight is normally held in contracted position by a coiled torsion spring 5|, adjustably.

anchored at one end in one of the locking recesses of a plate 52 fast on the stud 49, and engaging the pin 53at its other end. In its con- ,tracted position, each weight engages a stop a spring 65 connecting the upper end of said lever 6| with said pedal. Release of the stop member 6| from itsholding position is accomplished by a- 61 pivotally mounted at 68 on the upper end of through the links 41 exert a turning movement of the equalizer 46 in a counterclockwise direc-. tion as viewed in Fig. 2 and hence an outward thrust on the links 38 and the wedge blocks 24. Under these conditions, the sleeve'33 is held back to relieve the clutching pressure of thespring 36 upon said sleeve and on the levers 26. As a consequence, when the wedge blocks 24 are moved radially outwardly by the speed responsive means above described they tend to wedge themselves between the plate |8 and the rollers 30 of the levers 26 and thus act to enga e the clutch and to swing the levers 26 toward the right, and thus through the sleeve 33 compress the clutchpedal on lever 56. Thus tilting the pper end of the plate 61 toward the-left will e gert a thrust on-the wire 66 which in turn will act on the upper end of the lever 6| to swing it toward thev right and thus release it from the fixed stop 62 so that sleeve 33 under the action of the spring 36 travels further and act on the levers 26 and members 24 regardless of the posi--v tion of said members 24 to hold the clutch in emergency engagement. Movement of the clutch control sleeve 33 to release position is of course permitted regardless of the position of the stop member 6 the emergency engagement of the clutch and for releasing the clutch.

In this modification, the numeral 16' desi nates the drive shaft or engine shaft, H the driven or transmission shaft, and I2 the flywheel secured to the shaft I l' by the bolts 13'.

The flywheel forms one of the clutch elements and has a clutch face i4 adapted to be engaged by the-adjacent friction face l5 of the clutch element l6 which is in the form of a disk whose hub I1. is slidably splined tothe driven shaft l I. A clutch element I8 is in the form of an annular pressure plate which is slidably keyed to the flywheel l2 bykey projections l9 working in slots 20' in a casing 10 secured by bolts II to the flywheel l2. This plate I8 is adapted to be moved laterally into engagement with the friction face 2| of the disk It and acts to press the face l5 of said. disk into clutched engagement with the clutch face 14' of the flywheel to form a driving relation between said drive and driven shafts. This clutch element I8 is normally held in release position by equally spaced, radially disposed flat springs .22

Wedge blocks 24' are slidably mounted in equally spaced radially disposed grooves 25' formed in the plate l8 and are adapted to cooperate with a movable backing means including adjacently disposed members 26'. Each of these members 26' is fixedly secured to an annular spring plate 13; as by welding indicated'at 14,

and carries a roller 30' engageable with the adjacent face of the wedge block 24 including the inclined portion 15. The sides of the members. 26' are slidably mounted in the key slots 20' and thus act as guides for said members and the plate 13.

The plate 13 is also slidably guided by equally spaced radially disposed studs |8 adjustably at one end to the stud 49' and engaging the pin 53' at its other end. In its contracted position each weight engages a stop block 54' secured to the plate 18.

The'action of the above described modification is similar to the first form described. As the speed of the flywheel l2 and the plate I8 keyed thereto increases, the weights 48 swing outwardly under the influence of centrifugal force and thus through the links 41' exert a turningmovement of the equalizer 40' in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5 and hencean outward thrust on the links 38' and the wedge blocks 24'. Under these conditions th backing members 26' have been previously set back to relieve the clutching pressure of the springs 18 upon said members and plate 13. As a consequence, when the wedge blocks 24' are moved radially outwardly by the speed responsive means above described they tend to wedge themselves between the plate l8 and the rollers 38 of the members '26 and thus act to engage the clutch and force the members 28" with the plate 13 toward the right and thus compress the springs, 18. Thus as the inclined surface I5 of the blocks 24' passthc rollers 38' the clutch is engaged and this action takes place at a certain predetermined speed at is not increased relatively to the speed. Under mounted in threaded bushings 11 mounted in the casing 18. The plate 13 with the members 28' is normally urged to clutch applying position by a plurality of coiled spring 18 interposed between said plate and the end wall of the casing 18 and some of which are shown in the drawings. Thus the pressure of the springs 18 on the backing means acts through the rollers 38' and blocks 24 to put pressure on the plate !8' so as to move it against the disk l6 and bring said disk into clutched engagement with the fly- For normal automatic operation of the clutch, speed responsiv means are provided for moving the wedge blocks 24' relative to the plate [8' and the members 26' generally similar to the first described construction. Each of the blocks 24' is pivotally connected by a pin 31' to one end of a link 38 which'is pivotally connected by a pin 39' to an equalizer member 48 mounted to turn freely. on the hub of a bearing member 4 I whose web or disk portion 42' is secured to the plate by welding, said equalizer being held against longitudinal movement by the nut 44' in threaded engagement with the threaded end of said bearin member and also looked thereto by the lock key 45'.

Governor weights 4B are each operatively con- 1 nected by a link 41' with the equalizer memthese conditions the forces acting to retract the weights 46' to release the clutch are less since the springs I8 are prevented from acting to release the clutch. and are actually exerting pressin'e through the plate 13 and the members 26' upon the blocks 24' retarding their movement to release position. Hence the speed at which release of the clutch takes place will be much less than that at which the clutch is engaged.

. For disengaging th clutch manually, under conditions of emergency engagement or at any other time, the pedal operated shaft 51 has a throwout fork portion 58' engageable with a shift collar59' on which a thrust ring 68 is carried and journaled on a ball bearing journal 19. The Y v collar. The collar 58 is also shown as slidably mounted on a bearing sleeve 83. The thrust ring 60' engages the inner ends of equally spaced radially disposed levers 84 adapted to cooperate with the adiacently mounted members 26'. Each of the levers 84 is slotted at 85 to fit over the pin otally mounted on the lateral extensions 86 of said pin. The outer end 81 of each lever 84 is normally held in engagement with a lug 88 of the cooperative member 26' by.a spring 89 interposed between said lever and the casing 10. The usual downward swinging movement of the pedal lever (not shown) connected with the shaft 51' and fork 58' acts to shift the collar 58 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 4, and thus swing the inner ends ofthe release levers 84 toward the left and consequently swing their outer ends 81 toward the right and thus act on the members 26' to shift them with the plate 13 toward the right to relieve the pressed through action of the weights 46', the blocks 24' and the backing means as previously described.

The clutch pedal associated with the shaft 51' has the same releasable stop arrangement as that of -the first described construction so that the travel of the fork portion 58' is limited so that the clutch will be disengaged at idling speeds and be in a position for normal automatic operation ment I6", which is in the form of a disk whose hub I1" is slidably splined to the driven shaft II". A clutch element I8" in the form of an annular plate is slidably keyed to the flywheel I2" by means of a plurality of slots I9" which receive key projections 20" on a cup-shaped casing I", thecasing I0" being in turn secured to the flywheel I2" by a plurality of bolt devices 1I". The-plate I8" is adapted to be moved laterally into engagement with the friction face 2 I" of the disk I6" and acts to press the face I". of said disk into clutched engagement with the clutch face I4" of the flywheel to form a driving connection between the drive and driven shafts. The clutch plate I8". is normally held in its release position by three equally spaced coil springs 22" which are anchored at one end to the plate and at the other end to the casing I0", as shown in Fig. 6.

In the present form of the invention, the clutch plate I8" is operated by means including a movably mounted ring I00 and a plurality of radially extending substantially flat fingers or levers It". The ring I00 is provided with key portions' I00 engaging in the slots I9" of the plate I8" so as to prevent relative rotation therebetween. The levers II at their outer ends I02 engage against an annular ridge I03 on the ring I00, and intermediate their ends the levers engage against an annular ridge I04 on the plate I8" which acts as a fulcrum for the levers. At the inner ends I05, the levers IOI engage a collar I06 which is movably mountedon a sleeve I01 and is pressed toward the left (Fig. 6) by a heavy coiled spring I08, the other end of which abuts the casing The levers IOI are preferably shaped as illustrated in Fig. 10 and may be formed of a spring steel, and preferably'have reduced portions I09 adjacent their inner ends which are interengaged in recesses I I0 formed in, a collar I I I which surrounds the left hand end of the sleeve I01 and abuts a flange I I2 thereon. A snap ring H8 is provided to retain the collar I06 on the enlarged portion I I4 of the sleeve I01. with the ring I00 in the position shown in Fig. 6, the clutch is released. However, upon movement of ring I00 toward the left, the levers IOI act to engage the clutch elements and subject them to the pressure applied on the inner end of the levers by the coiled spring I08. The mechanism for moving the ring I00 to engage and disengage the clutch, will now be described.

The casing I0" isprovided .with three inwardly extending bosses I20 which are bored at I 2I to receive the shanks I22 of inserts having heads I23. The heads I23 are preferably grooved at I24, as shown in Fig. '7, to form a race way fora plurality of balls I25 held in a retainer I28. An opposing race way for'the balls is formed by the free end of arms I21 which are pivotally mounted on the casing 10" by means of pins I28 (Figs. 7 and 9). The arms I21 are provided with recessed inserts I30 positioned opposite to corresponding inserts I3I .in the ring I00.. Metal balls I32 are located in the recesses I33 and I34 of these inserts and function, when the arms I30 are swung outwardly from the positions shown in Fig. 7, to ride up on the inclined surfaces of the recesses I33 and I34 and move the ring I00 toward the left (Fig. 6). This wedgelike action is utilized for moving the clutch elements into engagement with each other under the pressure of-the clutch spring I08.

For normal automatic operation of the clutch, speed responsive means are provided for moving the arms I21 relative to the ring I00. Each of the arms I2I is bifurcated as shown in Fig. 9 and is pivotally connected by a pin 31" to. one end of a link 38", the other end of which is pivotally connected by a pin 39" to an equalizer member 40" mounted, by means of a bushing 40, to turn freely on a hub 4|" secured to the casing I0" as by welding at MI. The equalizer member 40" is held'against longitudinal movement between the adjacent portion of the casing 10" and a flanged disk I42 secured to the hub 4|": Governor weights 48" are each operatively connected by a link 41" with the equalizer member 40" and are pivotally mounted on studs 49" which are secured to the casing T0", as shown in Fig. 8. Each weight is normally held in contracted position by a coiled torsion spring 5i" surrounding a stud 49" and suitably anchored at one end against a pivot pin I43 which connects the corresponding link 41" with the weight 46" and suitably anchored at its other end against a flange I44 of the disk I42. The pivot pins I43 pass through and move in slots I45 in the disk I42 and engage the inner ends of said slots to determine the inner positions of the weights 48". The weights are suitably slotted at I43 (Fig. 8) to receive the links 41".

The operation of this form of the invention is somewhat similar to that of the preceding forms. As the speed of the drive shaft I0" increases, the weights 46 swing outwardly under the influence of centrifugal force and thus through the links 41" effect a turning movement of the equalizer member 40" in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. '7. The equalizer member acts through the links 38" to swing the arms I21 outwardly in a clockwise direction about their pivot pins I28. When the arms I2I swing outwardly, the balls I32 act against the in clined'surfaces I33 and I34 of the inserts I30 and I3I, respectively, to move the ring I00 toward the left (Fig. 6).. This movement of the ring I00 operates the levers IOI to move the plate I8" toward the left and subject the plate to the pressure exerted by the coiled clutch spring I08. During this movement of the parts, the links 38" act in the manner of toggle links between the equalizer and the arms I2'I. As the speed of the associated therewithis stopped. Thus a clutch pedal shaft 51" formed in two parts has a throwout fork 58", engageable with a collar or ring 59" which has a ball bearing journal mounting 60" on the outer end of the sleeve I01 (Figs. 6 and 11). One part of the shaft 51" passes through a suitable support I50 and has Secured thereto an arm II, in the outer end of which is threaded an adjusting; screw device I52. This screw device engages a cam member I 53 pivoted on a pin I54 secured to the support I50, the cam member being provided with an arm extension I55 which is connected by means of a pin I55 to a rod I51 secured to one end of a compressible diaphragm device I58. The device I58 is of conventional construction with the diaphragm biased to a projected position ofv the rod I51. This diaphragm device may be connected as by means'of a tube I59 to the intake manifold of the engine (not shown) so that when the engine is operating and the diaphragm is contracted as shown in Fig. 6, the raised portion I50 of the cam I53 serves as a stop for the screw device I52 and acts through theintervening arm I5I, fork 58", collar 59", ball bearing 60, and sleeve I01 to maintain the inner ends of the levers IOI in the positions shown in Fig. 6. This may be referred to at the point of contact of the screw l 52 with the cam surface I53 passes through the pin I54. Thus the thrust or reaction of the arm I5I acts through the cam member on the stationary pin I54 instead of tending to rotate the cam member.

The cam member may thus be said to be dis-- posed in the line of thrust of the backing means.

With this arrangement substantially the only vacuum created force required of the suction device is that to overcome its inherent bias.

When the engine stops and the suction on the device I58 is removed, the device expands and acts to pivot the cam I53 in a clockwise direc-' tion (Fig. 6) so that the adjusting screw device I52 rides off the high portion I of the cam and permits the fork 58" to pivot in a clockwise direction. This allows the spring I08 to move the inner ends of the levers IOI toward the left -to move the clutch parts to their positively engaged position. The clutch parts may be moved to a manual disengaged position by counterclockwise rotation of the shaft 51" by depressing the pedal, not shown in Fig. 6, but which may be similar to pedal 56 of Fig. l.

In the form of the invention just described, the

yieldable backing means includes the collar or ring I 106 and the coiled spring I08, these parts corresponding to the collar 33 and spring 36 of the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3. In all forms of the invention, the shiftable' wedge devices function to subject one element of the clutch to the pressure of the yieldable backing means for the purpose of engaging the clutch. In each instance, emergency engagement of the clutch mechanism is provided so that when used in an automotive vehicle the clutch may be engaged while the engine is dead, thereby permitthis engagement of the clutch when the motor is dead may be accomplished automatically.

By providing toggle mechanism including links (such as 38" of Figs. 6 and 7) which reach approximately dead center when the weights are fully extended, the clutch spring I08 will be practically locked in and the centrifugal weights will be substantially free from any releasing influence of the clutch spring. Thus, the weights, in their fully extended positions, would then be subject only to the releasing action of the torsion weight springs 5t" surrounding their own pivots. In this manner, a delayed action is obtained in the disengagement of the clutch elements as thespeed of the elements decreases, with the result that the clutch elements will be disengaged at a lower speed than that at which they were engaged. The provision of toggle links in the operating mechanism between the centrifugal weights and one of the clutch elements also. results in smooth and efiicient operation.

I claim as my invention:

1. A clutch having, in combination, cooperative clutch elements including a friction disk and a member engageable with said disk, backing means, radially shiftable pressure transmitting means between said member and said backing means and'slidably mounted and guided on said element, speed responsive means for actuating said pressure transmitting means to apply said clutch, spring means normally acting on said backing means and urging it to a clutch applying position, and manually operable means to control the-action of said spring means.

2. A clutch having, in combination, cooperative clutch elements including a friction disk and a member engageable with said disk, backing means, sli'dably movable pressure transmitting members between said member and said backing means and mounted and guided on said member, speed responsive means for moving said pressure transmitting members to apply said clutch, spring means normally acting on said backing means and urging it to a clutch applying position, and manually operable means to control the action of said spring means.

3. A clutchhaving, in combination, cooperative clutch elements including a friction disk and a member engageable with said disk, backing means, movable wedge blocks disposed between said member and said backing means and slidably mounted and guided on said member, speed responsive means for moving said wedge blocks to apply said clutch, spring means normally acting on said backing means and urging it to a clutch applying position, and manually operable means to control the action of said spring means.

4.\A clutch having, in combination, cooperative clutch elements including a friction disk and a member engageable with said disk, backing means, movable members disposed between said member and said backing means and having inmeans for moving said members to apply said,

clutch, spring means normally acting on said backing means and urging it to a clutch'applying position, and manually operable means to control v the action of said spring means.

5. A clutch having, in combination, cooperative clutch elements including a friction disk and a member engageable with 'said disk, backing means including radially disposed members provided with rollers, wedge blocks disposed between said rollers and said first named member, speed responsive means for moving said blocks to apply said clutch, spring means normally acting on said backing means and urging it to a clutch applying position, and manually operable means to control the action of said spring means.

6. A clutch having, in combination, cooperative clutch elements including a friction disk and a member engageable with said disk, backing means including radially disposed levers provided with rollers, movable members disposed between said member and levers and having inclined faces and dwells cooperating with said rollers, speed responsive means for moving said members to apply said clutch, spring means normally acting on said backing means and urging it to a clutch applying position','and manually operable means to control the action of said spring means.

7. A clutch having, in combination, cooperative clutch elements including a friction disk and a member engageable with said disk,'a yieldable backing means, pressure .transmitting members slidably mounted on said member and engaging said backing means, an' equalizer carried by said member and operatively connected with said pressure transmitting members, governor weights movable with and relative to said mem her and operatively connected to said equalizer to move the same and said pressure transmitting members to apply said clutch.

. means, shiftable pressure transmitting members 8. A clutch having, in combination, c'oopera tive clut'ch elements including a friction disk and a member engageable with said disk, spring.

means to release said clutch elements, yieldable backing means, shiftable pressure transmitting -means between said member and said backing means and slidably mounted and guided on said member, speed responsive means for actuating said pressure transmitting means to apply said' clutch, said pressure transmitting means having a lost motion movement relative to said backing means limiting the pressure exerted by said backing means to a predetermined pressure after a predetermined speed has been reached.

9. A clutch having, in combination, coopera-a tive clutch elements including a friction disk and a member engageable with said disk, spring means to release said clutch elements, yieldable backing means, shiftable pressure transmitting means between said member and said backing means and slidably mounted and guided on said member, speed responsive means for actuating said pressure transmitting means to apply said clutch, said pressure transmitting means having parts engagedby said backing means to resist the release of saidspeed responsive means; and acting to hold the clutch against disengagement until a lower speed is reached from that at which the clutch was engaged.

10. A clutch having, in combination, cooperative clutch elements including a friction disk and a member engageable with said disk, backing means having radially disposed rollers, pressure transmitting members slidably mounted and guided onsaid member and movable radially in respect thereto, each of said pressure transmitting members having an inclined face and a hat face successively engaged by the adjacent-roller of said backing means as said members are moved outwardly, speed responsive means mounted for movement in a, plane at right angles to the axis or said shafts for simultaneously moving said clutch, said pressure transmitting members having parts engaged by said backing means to resist therelease of said speed responsive means and acting to hold the clutch against disengagement until a lower speed is reached from that at which the clutch is engaged.

12. A clutch having, in combination, cooperative clutch elements including a friction disk and a member engageable with said disk, backing means, movable pressure transmitting members disposed between said member and backing means and having inclined faces and dwells engageable with said backing means, said dwells permitting movement of said pressure transmitting members relative to said backing means after the clutch is engaged, speed responsive means for moving said members to apply said clutch, and spring means normally acting on said backing means and urging it to clutch applying position.

13. A clutch having, in combination, cooperative clutch elements including a friction disk and a member engageable with said disk, spring means to release said clutch elements, yieldable backing means, radially shiftable wedges having dwell backing means, radially movable pressure trans-' mitting members working between said member and said backing means, each of said pressure transmitting members having an inclined face and a flat face successively engaged by said backing means as said pressure transmitting members aremoved radially outwardly, speed responsive means mounted for movement in a plane at right angles to the axis of said shafts for simultaneously moving said pressure transmitting members to apply said clutch, means for retracting said speed responsive means,said fiat faces providing dwells cooperating with said backing means when the latter are engaged therewith to oppose the action ofsaid retracting means upon said speed responsive means until a lower speed is obtained than the speed at which said ressure transmitting members were moved to a'. clutch engaging position.

15. A clutch having, in combination, a drive element, a driven element, cooperative means associated with said elements forconnecting them together in driving relation including a friction disk and a member. engageable with said disk,

spring pressed backing means, shiftable pressure transmitting means between said member and said backing means, speed responsive means for actuating said pressure transmitting means to engage the clutch comprising weight members pivotally mounted on axes parallel to the axis of the friction disk, and means including toggle links connecting said weight members to said pressure transmitting means and movable substantially to ing means, movably mounted means interposed between said member and backing means operable to engage said member and .disk under pressure of said backing means, centrifugally operable weights, and means connecting said centrifugal weights to said movably mounted means including toggle links movable to a locked posi-.

' tion causing said movably mounted means to engage said member and disk under the pressure of said backing means when the weights move outwardly.

17. An automatic clutch comprising, in combination, driving and driven elements, spring means to release said clutch elements, yieldable backing means, means including shiftable wedges operable to subject one of said elements to the pressure on said backing means, centrifugally operable weights, and toggle connections between said weights and said wedges including an equalizer.

18. An automaticclutch comprising, in combination, driving and driven elements, spring backing means, shiftable wedge devices interposed between said backing means and one of said elements, centrifugally operable weights, and

21. An automatic clutch comprising, in combination, driving and driven elements, means to release' said clutch elements, automatic means for'engaging said clutch elements comprising backing means movably mounted on one of said elements, "spring means urging said backing means toward clutch engaging position, centrifugally operable weights, shiftable devices movable to a position subjecting one of said clutch 7 means to release said clutch elements, yieldable en element of the clutch, centrifugally operable governor weights pivoted on axes parallel to the axes oi the clutch elements, and means connectmg said governor weights to operate said wedges comprising an equalizer member rotatably mounted co-axially with the clutch elements, toggle connections between the wedges and the equalizer member and links connecting the equalizer member-with said weights.

20. An automatic clutch comprising, in com bination, driving and driven elements, spring means to release said clutch elements, yieldable V backing means comprising radially positioned levers pivoted at their outer ends on the drive ele- 'ment of the clutch and a second spring means operable on the inner ends of said levers, shiftgally operable governor weights, and means con-- necting said governor weights to operate said devices including toggle connections between the devices and the equalizer member.

elements to the pressure of said spring means, means for connecting said weights to said shiftable devices including toggle links, and means normally operable to limit the movement of the backing means in one direction to place the control of the clutch in the centrifugal weights.

22. An automatic clutch comprising, in combination, driving and driven elements, means to release said clutch elements, automatic means for engaging said clutch elements comprising backing means movably mounted on one of said elements, spring means urging said backing means toward clutch engaging position, centrifugally operable weights, shiftable devices movable to a position subjecting one of said clutch elements to the pressure of said spring means, means for .connecting said weights to said shiftable devices including toggle links, means normally operable to limit the movement of the backing means in one direction to place the control of the clutch in the centrifugal weights, and means 'for rendering said limiting means ineffective and thereby engaging the clutch elements independently of the action of said centrifugal weights.

23. An automatic clutch comprising, in combination, driving and driven elements, spring means to release said clutch elements, automatic means for engaging said clutch elements comprising backing means movably mounted on one of said elements,-shiftable wedges operable to render the backing means efiective to engage the clutch, a second spring means urging said backing means toward clutch engaging position,

centrifugally operable weights and toggle connections between said Weights and said wedges, and means'normally operable to limit the movement of the backing means toward the wedges to place'the control of-the clutch in the centrifugal weights. l

24. An automatic clutch comprising, in combination, driving and "driven elements, spring means to release said clutch elements, auto-J.

matic means for engaging said clutch elements comprising backing means movably mounted on one of said elements, shiftable wedges operable to render the backing means efiective to engage the clutch, a'second spring means urging said backing means toward clutch engaging position, I

' bination, driving' means including a pressure plate, a spring for urging said pressure plate toward clutch engaged position, a driven disk adapted to be rotated with thedriving means upon engagement of the clutch, and means for automatically effecting engagement or disengagement of the driving means and driven disk comprising a plurality of centrifugal weights mounted for rotative movement with said driving means and for limited movement relative thereto with changes in the rotative speed' of said driving means, means operable to subject said pressure plate to the pressure of said spring including an arm pivoted at one end and having a socket formed in one face thereof, a ball in said socket,- and linkage operatively connecting said centrifugal weights and the arm pivoting said arm with movement of the weights under centrifugal force to efiect engagement of the clutch.

26. An automatic clutch comprising, in combination, rotatable driving means, driven means adapted to be rotated with the driving means upon engagement of the clutch, and means for automatically effecting engagement or disengagement of the driving and driven means depending upon the speed of rotation of the driving means comprising a plurality of centrifugal weights mounted for rotative movement with said driving means and for limited movement relative to said driving means with changes in the rotative speed of said driving means, a spring pressed backing means, means operable by said weights for effecting engagement between said driving and driven means under pressure of said backing means including toggle mechanism having toggle links which move substantially to a dead center position when the weights arefully extended, and spring means associated with said weights for returning the weights to their C011? tracted positions asthe speed of the clutch decreases.

27. An automatic clutch comprising in combination rotative driving means, driven means adapted to be rotated with the driving means upon engagement of the clutch, and"means for automatically effecting engagement or disengagement of the driving and driven means comprising a. plurality of centrifugal weights mounted for rotative movement with said driving means and "for limited movement relative thereto with changes in the rotativespeed of said driving means, toggle means operable upon actuation to effect engagement of said driving and driven means, said toggle means having a, normal position in which the driving and driven means are disengaged and being constructed to effect a successively decreasing movement of the clutch means toward engaged position with movement of the toggle means away from normal position,

and linkage connecting the centrifugal weights and said toggle means effective to impart successively increasing movement to said toggle means with movement of the weightsaway from normal position.

28.'An automatic clutch comprising, in combination, driving and driven elements, means to release said clutch elements, automatic means for engaging said clutch elements comprising backing means movably mounted on one of said elements, spring means urging said backing means toward clutch engaging position, centrifugally operable weights, shiftable devices movable to a position subjecting one of said clutch elements to the pressure of said spring means, means for connecting said weights to said shiftable devices including toggle links, means including a vacuum operated device normally operable to limit the movement of the backing means in one direction to place the control of the clutch in the centrifugal weights, and means for rendering said limiting means ineffective and thereby engaging the clutch'elements independently of the action of said centrifugal weights.

29. An automatic clutch comprising, in combination, driving and driven elements, means to release said clutch elements, automatic means for engaging said clutch elements comprising backing means movably mounted on one of said elements, spring means urging said backing means toward clutch engaging position, centrifugally operable weights, shiftable devices movable to a position subjecting one of said clutch elements tothe pressure of said spring means, means for connecting said weights to said shiftable devices including toggle links, a movable abutment device positionable in an operative position where it takes the thrust of said backing means in one direction to limit the movement, of the backing means in that direction and place the control of the clutch'in the centrifugal weights, and vacuum operated means connected to said abutment device for moving the same, said vacuum device being biased to move said abutment device out of the line of thrust of said backing means thereby permitting engagement of the clutch elements by action of said spring means independently of the action of said centrifugal weights and tending .to move said abtutment device to operative position when evacuated.

30. An automatic clutch comprising, in combination, driving and driven elements, means to.

release said clutch elements, automatic means for engaging said clutch elements comprising backing means movably mounted on one of said elements, spring means urging said backing means toward clutch engaging position, centrifugally operable weights, shiftable devices movable to a position subjecting one of said clutch elements to the pressure of said spring means, means for connecting said weights to said shiftable devices including toggle links, a pivoted throwout fork associated with said backing means, a pivotally mounted abutment device interposable in the line of thrust between said fork and the pivot point of said abutment device to limit the movement of the backing means in one direction andplace control of the clutch in the centrifugal weights, and vacuum operated means connected to said abutment device for controlling the position thereof, said vacuum device being biased to-pivot said abutment device out of the line of thrust of said fork and tending when evacuated to pivot said abutment device into the line of thrust.

OSCAR H. BANKER. 

